[Noozhawk’s note: One in a series on the teachers who will be honored Nov. 6 at A Salute to Teachers, presented by Cox Communications and the Santa Barbara County Education Office.]
Ten educators will be recognized Nov. 6 at A Salute to Teachers, an event hosted by Cox Communications and the Santa Barbara County Education Office at the Music Academy of the West in Montecito.
Alisyn Blanton of Miguelito School in the Lompoc Unified School District has been named the 2022 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year.
Frank Koroshec of San Marcos High School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District will be honored as the 2021 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year.
Josie Coburn of Orcutt Academy High School in the Orcutt Union School District will be recognized as the 2022 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year.
Elizabeth Caruso of Monroe School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District will be honored as the 2021 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year.
The 2021-2022 distinguished mentors to be recognized are Lorena Armstrong of Mary Buren School in the Guadalupe Union School District, Riccardo Magni of Pioneer Valley High School in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, and Melissa Woods of Dos Pueblos High School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.
The 2021-2022 distinguished new educators to be honored are Samantha Ayala of La Honda STEAM Academy in the Lompoc Unified School District, T.J. Berry of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School in the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District, and Christina Peña Eckert of Carpinteria Middle School in the Carpinteria Unified School District.
The eighth annual presentation will be livestreamed at 5 p.m. Nov. 6 at s.sbceo.org/salutestream.
In addition to Cox, Salute to Teachers is sponsored by Noozhawk, Fielding Graduate University, Montecito Bank & Trust, Santa Barbara Bowl, Santa Barbara City College and Southwest Airlines.
Noozhawk Q&A
Noozhawk: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
Frank Koroshec: Honestly, I never intended to be a teacher. But, after a decade of making records and touring with my band, I was ready for a change.
While the artist’s life is certainly intriguing, I found being on the road to be quite isolating. You may make music for your fans, but do you really connect with them on a relational level?
The classroom, on the other hand, can be an intimate space, where we may share our ideas and learn to care for one another. We build something beautiful together, like art. And, these young artists give me hope for the future as they move beyond the walls of my classroom to live out the lessons they have learned.
Noozhawk: How long have you been teaching?
FK: This is my 18th year as an educator, and my 11th at San Marcos High.
Noozhawk: What is your favorite subject or lesson plan to teach your students?
FK: I enjoy teaching poetry. My students often tell me that they don’t like poetry and don’t see the point, so I insist that poetry at its core is music and that studying poetry offers an opportunity for us to consider various perspectives on so many social questions.
The best part is that poetry is a tool that students may use to share their own voices, and every year, my Writer’s Society hosts a poetry slam to encourage students to do so.
Noozhawk: What is your favorite part of being a teacher?
FK: I love my students, which is what made teaching during distance learning such a challenge for me. While the screen may have enabled us to deliver content, there is no substitute for in-person instruction. We are social beings who long for community.
Noozhawk: What are the challenges of your job?
FK: There’s certainly not enough time. There’s so much that we are asked to do beyond the regular school day — lesson planning, grading papers, writing letters of recommendation, answering parent/student emails, attending IEP meetings — that I often feel like I’m on the edge, about to fall off.
But, then I show up to class, and there they are, my students, ready to learn, to grow, to ask questions, to inspire. They fill me up!
Noozhawk: What are you most looking forward to this school year?
FK: Our annual Poetry Slam come December. Every Monday and Wednesday, I meet with a group of young poets who are planning and participating in the event. I cannot wait to see them perform, and I’m hoping one of them will be named Santa Barbara County Youth Laureate this year.
Noozhawk: Who are your mentors?
FK: I’m so grateful for Dr. Kim Monda and Maggie Mason who helped me plan and implement my English 110 and 111 courses. I also work with an amazing English department at San Marcos and have learned so much from each of them. We are a collaborative group who truly enjoys spending time together.
Noozhawk: Who are the people in your life and work environment who support you every day?
FK: My wife, Adrienne, knows better than anyone how many hours it takes to do my job. She has been understanding and supportive from the beginning.
My colleagues and admin team at SMHS are with me every step of the way. I know I can turn to any of them if needed.
Finally, there are many friends and fellow educators at my church, who commiserate with me and encourage me on a weekly basis. I am grateful for their community.
I also know that my family is quite proud of me, which makes me happy.
Noozhawk: How does it feel to be honored as part of the Salute to Teachers?
FK: I feel like there hasn’t been much to celebrate over the past couple of years, so I’m thrilled to be invited to this party. We can all use some more joy right now.
But teachers are also in the business of caring for students. That’s our primary goal, but the demands placed on us this year are making it impossible for us to do our job to the level of excellence that we expect of ourselves. Therefore, we must be gracious to ourselves and we must also be deliberate in our care for one another.